Animals Eat Each Other is a debut novel about a young woman who begins a sexual relationship that leads her to explore the dynamic between obsession and desire.
This is a striking novel written in simple yet lyrical prose that packs plenty of emotional power. The central characters have a fraught relationship with each other, but also with themselves. The protagonist in particular is driven to engage in destructive sexual behaviour thanks to her own struggle with self-esteem, and her need to be wanted.
When she meets a young couple and begins a flirtation with them, it leads to a dramatic, erotic affair where she not only allows herself to disappear, to be consumed, but seems to revel in it.
She is drawn into a relationship with Matt and Frances, attracted to their apparently stable family life, which she fantasises about being part of. She lets them mould her, tattoo her, even name her, adopting their chosen moniker of Lilith and the identity that comes with it.
In all her encounters, Lilith wants to be desired to be important to the other person. She changes her behaviour to fit with them, but there’s always a destructive streak at the core of her actions. For all she wants to be desired and loved, ultimately she treats people poorly and pushes them away.
Still, Lilith is a wounded character and it’s easy to empathise with her. In the hands of another writer she might have been unlikeable, but Nash makes her story engaging.
This is a book about sex and desire, but it’s also about the emotions that underpin our erotic lives and drive us to form the particular relationships we do.
It’s a short, engaging read, with dark emotional undertones that will stay with you after the story ends. Definitely worth reading.
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Animals Eat Each Other on Goodreads, Amazon and Waterstones
Thanks to 404 Ink for sending me a copy of this novel for review! All opinions are my own.